From Alumna to Intern: The Many Opportunities of a Faculty of Native Studies Degree

Shaleigh Raine, Faculty of Native Studies Alumna, first embarked on the Alberta Indigenous Internship program in June 2015. After a successful application, Shaleigh started working with the Ministry of Indigenous Relations on the Strategic Initiatives team specifically in Consultation and Land Claims. For Shaleigh, the program allowed her to gain valuable work experience: "when I graduated I had little to no work experience and this program allowed me to get my foot in the door, with the knowledge I acquired through my undergrad, without being expected to know everything about that specific position already."

The Alberta Indigenous Internship Program is a two-year program where recent post-secondary graduates work with an Alberta Government Ministry in order to build skills, and to provide a meaningful work experience. For Shaleigh the program offers "a learning experience that allows you to develop at your own pace and you don't have to come in with this expectation that you're a complete expert on the issues."

As part of the Program, each Intern does a placement with a community organization. Shaleigh came to work with the Rupertsland Centre for Métis Research (RCMR) to fulfill the expectations of the program. During her time with RCMR, Shaleigh undertook archival research, including cataloguing, and tracking primary documents for a variety of research projects. For Shaleigh, "The placement portion of the program was really the best experience of the program, after spending so much time (1year) with government, which for me was learning about and doing research for Metis peoples/organizations in Alberta from their perspectives, which is really important. The placement essentially helped me to understand the rights and assertions of Metis communities and what I can do internally, within the Government of Alberta, to bring those voices and perspectives to areas within government where they may not have ever been heard or listened to before."

For RCMR, an intern provided support on ongoing research projects. According to Dr. Nathalie Kermoal, the RCMR Director, "Shaleigh was a gift sent from heaven. She was an excellent addition to our small two-persons team. She was full of energy, very positive, and extremely organized, her work allowed to finalize the organization of a major archival fond related to the Canative Housing Corporation." In addition to research activities, Shaleigh also assisted with RCMR hosted events, such as our bi-annual MétisTalks, and the Daniels Conference: In and Beyond the Law held in January 2017. Today, Shaleigh is a Policy Research Officer with the program and policy development team in the Indigenous Relations Ministry, working on all policy development related to First Nations consultation.

The Alberta Indigenous Intern Program is currently accepting applications until April 29, 2017. For more information on the Alberta Indigenous Intern Program and how to apply visit: http://indigenous.alberta.ca/AIIP.cfm